Engine swop on W123 280TE auto

[anders stefan]

I have a 1982 W123 280 TE auto with good body but engine is shot. I have a 5 cyl 300D with manual gear box all in good condition. My plan is to put the diesel into the 280 TE body. I assume this has been done before so I would appreciate some comments on this. Is it a worthwhile exercise? What about the pump for the self levelling rear suspension. Can it be fitted on the diesel engine? Do I have to change the front springs? Is the final drive ratio ok for the diesel engine with manual box? Are there other pitfalls?

Appreciate your comments.

Stefan

 

[Bolide]

Does the donor engine come from an estate of a saloon? Are yu planning to put the manual gearbox in the car?

Post back with your plan & list of bits you have already and I am sure some of the W123 experts will chime in

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[television]

The block weighs more, but are you trying to put in the manual gearbox, as you will need a clutch plus the center console part

 

[anders stefan]

Nick ,Malcolm thanks for your comments. Yes the plan is to put the manual box in the car with the understanding it needs extra pedal,clutch and the shift stick arrangements.I think the diesel engine is from a sedan since I can not see any signs of a hydraulic pump. How much need to be modified on the diesel engine to fit the hydraulic pump?

Stefan

 

[television]

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.as....400&VIN=*&CT=F&cat=318&SID=32&SGR=210&SGN=05

That part is the same on both engines

 

[meanie]

I have a 1982 W123 280 TE auto with good body but engine is shot. I have a 5 cyl 300D with manual gear box all in good condition. My plan is to put the diesel into the 280 TE body. I assume this has been done before so I would appreciate some comments on this. Is it a worthwhile exercise? What about the pump for the self levelling rear suspension. Can it be fitted on the diesel engine? Do I have to change the front springs? Is the final drive ratio ok for the diesel engine with manual box? Are there other pitfalls?

Appreciate your comments.

Stefan

A lot of work!!
Yes,a pump can be fitted to that engine(not sure if the 280 one is the same)
but you will need the drive adaptors to take the drive off of the chain idler & probably new hoses.
I also think that the fuel pipes are larger diameter.
Also the exhaust towards the rear is different on the estates.
All the other stuff(final drive,pedal box,gear linkage etc)should be interchangable with your donor car.
Would be easier to swap like with like though!!

 

[television]

I forgot about the whole exhaust system meanie

 

[meanie]

So you don't have a donor vehicle??

 

[Bolide]

Diff ratio may be different - depends on whether top is 1:1 or overdriven

You'll need the glow plug circuitry and the fuel shutoff system to stop the engine. Which means pneumatics, I think.

The prop may be different

No inlet manifold vacuum on a diesel so you'll need a vacuum pump and possibly a different master cylinder / servo setup

I'd try and buy a W123 diesel scrapper for parts

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[television]

Diff ratio may be different - depends on whether top is 1:1 or overdriven

You'll need the glow plug circuitry and the fuel shutoff system to stop the engine. Which means pneumatics, I think.

The prop may be different

No inlet manifold vacuum on a diesel so you'll need a vacuum pump and possibly a different master cylinder / servo setup

I'd try and buy a W123 diesel scrapper for parts

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

Wrong way round Nick petrol for scrapper or he still has all the same problems

 

[popuptoaster]

I have no experiance with this aprticular swop but have done lots of similar things in the past, i'll say that it could be done with time and effort, but unless your doing a swop that was never built by the manufacturer 9 times out of 10 its less grieff to break the vehicle you have for spares and buy the model you want, you'll run into so many littel issues even after the engine is in (will the speedo read right? what about the rest of the gauges? are the front springs and brakes good enough for a heavier engine? will the car be to high or low geared? etc etc)

Unless your car is super mint or has some sentimental value i'd just go buy a deisel version (or forget it and drop a big V8 in it and make the job worthwhile) and sell the parts from the old one.